Harvester



sept. 29, 1925.

1,555,695. J; NovAK HARVEST Filed March 29. 192s sheets-sheet 1` NHllllll l" "-l HHH Dunn

sept. 29, 1925.

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Filed. March 29. 1923 sept. 29, 1925.`

J. NOVAK HARVESTER Filed March 29,

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Patented Sept. 29, 1925.

UNITED STA'IS JAMES NovAK, or MADISON, oHIo.

HARVESTER.

Application mea March 29, 1923. serial No. 628,482.

useful improvements in harvesters 4and has particular reference to aharvesting machine adapted for threshing standing grain while travelingthrough a field. y

The primary object of the invention is to provide a harvesting machineadapted' toysever the tops or grain podsof grain stalks while travelingthrough a field of growing grain with devices for separating the grainsfrom the pod and conveying the separated grains and pods to a series ofsifting screens with which a fan blowerV is associated to separate thechaff from the grain.

Another object of the invention is to provide a traveling harvester andthreshing machine wherein the threshing devices for separating thegrains from the pods are disposed above a horizontal lower end sectionof an endless conveyor that carries the grain and chaff to a series ofsifting screens with which a fan blower is associated, independently4operable clutch control' drivingl devices being associated with each ofthe movable devices for controlling operation thereof. y y p Theinvention embodies other improvements in the art and more particularlywith reference to the application filed by James Novakforimprovements'in harvesters, PatentNo. 1,449,869, dated Mar. 27, 1923.

With the vabove general objects inA view and others that will ,appear asthe nature of the invention is better understood, thev same consists ofthe novel form, combination and arrangement `of parts hereinafter morefully described, shown in the accom` panying drawings and claimed.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure l' is a top plan view of a harvester constructedlinaccordancewith the present invention showing the engine traetor and therearwardly and laterally positioned harvesting and threshing devices,

Figur@ 2 .is a "eltcal .longitudinal ses tional view taken on linesII-II of Fig. 1 showing the threshing or grain topping devices and theendless conveyor for deliver-` ing the separated grains and pods to thesifting screens and fan blower,

Figure 3 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on line Ill-Ill ofFig. l showing the grain topping or threshing devices and theendlessconveyor disposed beneath the same,

Figure 4 is a Side elevational View of the rotatable grain toppingelement of the threshing mechanism showing the same formed of similarsections arranged in stag-A gered relation, and

IFigure 5 is a fragmentary detail view showing a modified form ofmounting for the rotatable member of the threshing mechamsm.

Referring more in detail to the accompanying drawings, there isillustrated a harvesting machine embodying a tractor e gine l, thesupporting wheels of whirl; a provided with endless belt treads 2 asshow inFigs. l and 3, the rear end of the trac-` tor engine havingattached thereto a harvesting machine including a body portion thatextends laterally of the tractor engine as shown in Fig. l, theharvester body ha\ ing an upper wall 3, a bottom wall 4 and front andrear walls 5 and 6 respectively. One end of the tractor body is closedby the outer end wall 7, while the inner end of the bottom wallet isinclined upwardly at'8,^and extends to a point slightly above the upperwall 3,*the adjacent end of the upper wall beinginclined upwardly andarched as at 9 with the endV thereof slightly spaced from the upper endofthe inclined end wall 8 to'provide an opening 10 for purposes`presently to appear. An arcuatel wall 11 is disposed at the outer sideof the end wall 8'to provide a fan chamber, the upper end of the wall l1being provided with an opening 12 as clearly 'shown in Fig. 2. A grainhopper 13 is disposed outwardly of the arcuate lwall 11, the" samehaving agate controlled discharge` spout 14 in the lower tapering endthereof, while the upper end of the grain hopper ismpro videdwith ahinged cover 15 attachedto the wall l6`fof the" harvester body, whilethe'latter is supported by ground wheels 1T The grain 'topping orthreshing mechanism is confined vwithin that portion of the bodyoreasing (li-spessi lataelly 0f the tras tion engine 1 and includes a pairof shafts 18 and 19, the shaft 18 being journaled within the casingwhile the shaft 1 9 .is journaled in the bracket 20disposed forwardlyVof the front wall 5 as shown in Fig. 3. An endless belt 21 passes overthe shafts 18 and 19 and has a sprocket chain 22 associated with eachend thereof and passing over sprocket. wheels 23 fixed to the shafts 18and 1-9. The outer'face of the belt 21 carries a plurality of outwardlydirected'fingers or pins-'24erranged in setsas shownnin Fig. 2 forpurposes presently to appear. i The endless belt 21 isdriventhroughthechain andsprocket mechanism above describedcommunicating with the' engine of the tractor 1 and' con? trolled by theclutch mechanism 26:V shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The grain topping and' threshing. mechanism further includes a series ofrotatable membersicooperating with' the' endless belt 21, the shaft 27iournaledlongitudinally ofv the lateral extension of the' casing havinga series of rotatable members fixed thereon in staggered relation asshownin Fig. 4, each rotatable member including a central disk portion28 carrying spaced outwardly directedarcuate plate .sections or arms 29that are curved in the same directions as illustrated in Fig. 3. theouter free end ofeach arm carrying a roller 30. a plurality of pins 31and a rearwardly positioned brush 32, the

arcuate arms 29 moving in proximity to the endless belt 21 forcooperation with the pins 24. Theshaft 27 and threshing elements carriedthereby are rotated through the medium ofthe sprocket wheel 33 fixed tothe shaft 27 and having the sprocket chain 34k traversing the same andassociated with the power shaft 35 as'shown in Fig. 2 and controlled bythe clutch mechanism 36. A guide roller 37 is journaled in the outerends ofadiustablebracket supports 38 carried by the lower end ofthefrontwall'5 ofthe casing, the roller 37 being' disposed slightly belowthe shaft 19 and acts as a fulcrum or breaking point for the standingstalks of growing grain when the podsvare engaged by the outer ends ofthe arcuate arms'29.

An endless c0nvey0r39 vis disposed within the casing, the same beingprovided with a plurality of spaced outwardly directed flights 40.v thebelt or conveyor: 39 havingthe lower ends thereof traveling inhorizontal directions parallel'withthe bottom wall 4 of the casing,while the .upper enditrave-lslpar-L allelfl withl the inclinedend wall:8 asi-shown in--Fig 2; Theopposite edgesl-oflthel'conl. veyor belt 39'are i provided' with a' p-lurality of perforationsA 41 with whichsprocket wheels' 42 `are associated; a shaft 43 extending transversely.of 'the ,casing adj acentfithe end wall 7 supporting. a 'pair of:sprocketz'fwheels 42; .while spacedfshafts44g'adjacentsthe lower end ofthe inclined end wall 8 support a pair incrl 12 in thearcuate wall-11. Afan wheel 48isfixed to the shaft49 in the compartmentbetweenJtheinclined end wall 8 and arcuate wall 11 and is adapted to forceacurrentof air upwardlythrough the opening-,12 andthrough the screens.V47 and 46.

Thefdrivingl mechanism for the conveyorbelt'39` and fan 48 includes achain and sprocket mechanism 50 driven from the. power shaft of thetractor engine 1 andibeing under `control of the clutch 51. The shaft 52has a chain-and sprocket connection 53 with the fan shaft 49, and achain and sprocket connection 54, with the shaft45.

If desired,the rotatable me1nbers28 of the threshing devices may beadjustedwithy respectto the endless belt 21, there being illustrated'inFig. 5 ofthe drawings, a lever 55 pivotally mounted at one end as at56-and rotatably supporting the shaft 271vintermediate the ends of saidleather lever, the outer end ofthe lever carrying a manuallyreleasabletensioned dog 57 that cooperates with the rack segment 58,' movement ofthe lever 55 shifting the members 28 with respect'to the belt 21;

In the operation of the device, the machine is driven through a fieldof'standing grain by the tractor engine, the roller 34 upontheadjustable bracket arms 38 being disposed for contacting the stalks ofthe grain at points spaced below thepods.l Rotation of the members 28fixed to the shaft 27'will cause the pinsl andl brush elements 31 and32'carried by the outer faces thereof to contact the grain pods` andmove the same over the traveling endless belt 21, the stalks breaking inbeing-bent over the Iguide roller 37, while the grain is removed fromthe pods when being drawnthrough or between the arcuate arms A29 randthe endless belt 2.1. The separated grains andpods or Vchaffl aredelivered upon the conveyor beltf39 and are delivered by' ythe. flights40 to theopeninglO atthe upperendv ofthebedyl casingfo1--Clischarge uponthey sifting. screensY 46.l The fan,-48. forcing'aa current of-airthrough the opening- 12 and screens, will separate the chaff fromthegrain and cause the'grain to descend into the hopper 'or receptacle13.`

Whilethere are herein` shown;` and-j def l understood that minor changesmay be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is 1. In a threshing machine of the typedescribed, wherein an endless conveyor delivers threshed grain to areceptacle, severing and delivering means for the grain while the latteris standing including circularly mov- -f ing arms and an endlesstraveling belt associated with the endless conveyor with the beltlocated directly under the arms, a journaled hub carrying the arms, alever pivoted at one end on the body and supporting the hub journalintermediate the ends of the lever for vertically shifting the hub andarms relative to the endless belt, outwardly directed pins carried bythe arms and belt, means for rotating the arms and moving the belt, saidarms being arranged in staggered relation longitudinally of the hub agrain stalk engaging roller positioned forwardly of the forward .end ofthe endless traveling belt and adjustable brackets supporting theroller.

2. In a threshing machine of the type described, wherein an endlessconveyor delivers threshed grain to a receptacle, severing anddelivering means for the grain while the latter is standing includingcircularlymoving arms and an endless traveling belt associated with theendless conveyor with the belt located directly under the arms, ajournaled hub carrying the arms, a lever pivoted at one end on the bodyand supporting the hub journal intermediate the ends of the lever forvertically shifting the hub and arms relative to the endless belt,outwardly directed pins carried by the arms and belt, means for rotatingthe arms and moving the belt, said arms being arranged in staggeredrelation longitudinally of the hub a grain stalk engaging rollerpositioned forwardly of the forward end of the endless traveling belt,adjustable brackets supporting the roller the arms being of curvedformation and the endless traveling belt being of a length relative tothe supports therefor disposed to provide a slack in the belt with theupper section of the belt assuming a curvature corresponding to thecurved arms.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JAMES NOVAK.

